Homily for the week of November 8, 2009

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, CYCLE B: 2009

1 Kings 17:10-16; Ps 146; Heb. 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44

When was the last time that you looked into your cupboards or your closets or your storage places or shelves or your garage or workplace? What do you find there? When will you wear the clothes or the shoes you bought 2 or 3 or 4 years ago, 10 years ago? In one way or other all of us are pack rats storing the unused or unneeded for future times, and even future generations. Regardless of our income we still live in abundance compared to many others.

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In the first reading today, there is a story of a widow who is down to her last handful of flour and a tiny bit of oil. She is just about to try to eke out something for her son and herself to eat, certain it will be their last meal. While gathering sticks at the entrance of the city, the widow encounters Elijah, who asks her first for a cup of water and then for a bit of bread. She explains her situation, and Elijah’s response seems initially to be incredibly insensitive. He asks her to bring him a little cake, even before she prepares something for herself and her son. What the biblical author does not recount is the kind of conflict such a request must have produced for the widow. Should she trust Elijah’s God, whom the prophet insists will ensure that her jar of flour will not go empty nor the jug of oil run dry? Or should she follow her motherly instincts to feed her child first? The obligations of hospitality win out; she gives all she had to live on. Miraculously, the prophet’s promise of a never-ending supply of flour and oil comes true.

Or lets imagine that you were a widow and the only money you had were a few pennies. Someone comes to you who has no money, and you give that person the little that you have. However, you noticed that living in the same village were a few with lots of money, much of which was obtained by asking large payments for the services they provided to you and to others. With their vast amount of money they were able to lobby politicians and to obtain positions of honor within the village. They were then able to impress and to make decisions which controlled others. You noticed that the poor got poorer and those with much got even more.

This is the story of our Bible readings today. The widow of Zarephath gave away the little that she had. Jesus tells us about another widow who came into the Jerusalem temple one day. At the entrance were several trumpet shaped metal containers into which people tossed coins. Those who had lots of money tossed in many coins and this made lots of noise. But a widow comes in, tosses in 2 small coins, the only money that she had. These two widows gave away what they had. These two widows did not give of their left overs, but what they needed to live.

Our first and third readings of today demand of us that we turn around society. We are called to open up pathways and doors of opportunity. Jesus demands of us that. "WE GIVE FROM OUR WANT, EVEN FROM WHAT WE HAVE TO LIVE ON." He cautions us that we not be like the money makers of the society who often invite us to invest with them or to buy their goods often persuading those who can least afford it. These scribes were good at telling others what to do. For the widow, giving was not to impress others, but an expression of the love of God and love of others. Our American culture invites us to make sure we receive more than we give. When was the last time that you saw an ad in a newspapers and TV, or an Internet site that tells us we should not buy this and that. The Sunday edition of the Plattsburgh paper contains over 100 pages of inserts of advertisement.

Too often we identify poverty with lack of money. But the first beatitude of Jesus says: Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven. The glass that is full can receive no more. It is only the empty glass or cup that can be filled. If we find ourselves filled with everything that is not of God, then it is difficult for God to empty our lives. We become completely attached to material things.

In reality we are all poor. All that we value most comes from God and is maintained by God. Our life, our health, our human abilities, our intelligence is all God’s gift to us. All we have is a gift from God. We are told today to shift our attention from the things that come and go, and to focus on those that are everlasting. There is nothing bad in having possessions and money. But poverty of spirit allows us to detach ourselves from always wanting more and newer and newer, or having what someone else has.

If all that we have came from God, then shouldn't we do the best to take care of it responsibly? For most of us, the gifts that God has given us is not only money, but it is our brains, our ability to reason, our conscience that tells us right from wrong, our health, our sexuality, our religion. All of these make up who we are. All of these are on loan to us. Have we used them with dignity or have we abused them.?

Jesus point out a great contrast between the well dressed officials who came into the temple and the poor widow. We must be slow to judge holiness or goodness by appearances only. We must look beyond externals. And we will find holy persons. These persons are loving and generous. They are not full of themselves and what they have done. They recognize their dependence on God. And as with anything borrowed, we must try to give back to God what he has given us, and even more. We are really the caretakers of what he has given us. We must use these gifts wisely and share them generously.

After the final blessing of the Mass, the priest says to you: GO IN PEACE TO LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD. To which you respond: THANKS BE TO GOD!